AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN F. LA ('MY 42] 



afterwards and hung him, believing him to be guilty, a 

 belief that I did not share. They placed a noose around 

 his neck and took him in a sled to the scene of the murder 

 and tying the rope to a limb were about to pull the sled 

 out from under him when Anderson called to a little boy 

 to come and pull off his boots so that he might not ' ' die 

 with his boots on. ' ' 



This incident illustrates the character and coolness of 

 the man, but it did not soften the hearts of the men who 

 had resolved upon his death. Whilst I did not refuse 

 criminal practice I never sought it and it bore a small 

 proportion to my general business. 



My practice in the various courts in southern Iowa en- 

 larged my acquaintance and led to many suggestions of 

 nomination for office, and especially for Congress. I did 

 not care to have my business broken into by the uncertain- 

 ties and labor of a personal political contest and up to 

 1888 gave no serious thought to any of these suggestions. 

 I had held the position of city solicitor one term, and al- 

 derman one term, but these places interfered but little 

 with my usual professional life. 



MY CONGRESSIONAL LIFE 4 



My bill for the protection of the lives of miners in the 

 territories was my favorite measure. The gases in the 

 Indian Territory mines were a source of dreadful danger 

 there and I foresaw that unless some proper legislation 

 was had there would be a great slaughter some day in 

 these mines. I got copies of all the mining laws of all 



* Major Lacey's story of his congressional life is intensely interesting 

 and not only records personal history in connection -with important com- 

 mittee work and the passage of noteworthy bills but includes many anec- 

 dotes of public men that are vastly entertaining. It is unfortunate that 

 the limitations of this volume forbid the printing of the complete manu- 

 script of forty-seven pages but it is to be hoped that in the near future the 

 entire account may be published. The report of one bill is given here. 



